Casket latching mechanism



Sept. 19, 196 D. A. MORAND CASKET LATCHING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 24, 1965 INVJE'NTOR. DONALD A. MORAND Y jwmmwf w Sept. 19, 1967 D. A. MORAND 3,342,?516

CASKET LATCHING MECHANISM Fig. 4.

I INPG'NTOR. DONALD A. MoRANp BY wi/wzwgz/wd/ AQIFZES United States Patent 3,342,516 CASKET LATCHING MECHANISM Donald A. Morand, Danville, Ill., assignor to Estad Products, Inc., Portland, 0reg., a corporation of Oregon Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,763 4 Claims. (Cl. 292-6) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A casket latching mechanism having latch hooks which draw the cap or lid into a closed and latched position without lateral movement of the cap and which are withdrawn to an inconspicuous lowered position when the casket cap or lid is separated from the casket body.

This invention relates generally to latching devices and in particular to a burial casket latching mechanism for providing a releasable fastening between either the head or foot caps of a casket and the casket body.

Various types of burial casket latching mechanisms are presently utilized, however, many of these are subject to various structural and functional disadvantages. One functional defect characteristic of prior art latching mechanisms is the lateral or sideward movement of the latch hooks as the hinged head or foot cap is latched closed. This lateral movement of the latch hooks as latching takes place tends to shift the head or foot cap sidewardly somewhat jamming the caps together. Subsequent opening and closing of the head cap, for example, can result in damage to either or both caps. A satisfactory latching mechanism must remedy this difiiculty and must position the latch hooks in an inconspicuous, lowered position when the cap is open so that there will be no interference with the upholstery or fabric draping over the casket margin.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a burial casket latching mechanism in which the latch hooks draw the cap or lid into closed and latched position without any jamming, lateral movement of the cap.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a burial casket latching mechanism in which the latch hooks are withdrawn to an inconspicuous, lowered position when the casket cap or lid is separated from the casket body.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a casket latching mechanism which does not interfere with the effectiveness of the conventional seal at the line of separation between the casket body and the hinged caps.

These and other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the latching mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the moveable components in their opposite, extreme position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a casket showing the latching mechanism of the present invention installed and illustrating the environment of use of the latching mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a latching plate illustrating the type of plate with which the latching mechanism cooperates.

Referring initially to FIG. 4, the latching mechanism, identified generally at 10, of the present invention is customarily installed at the margin of the casket body 11 and cooperates with latch plates 12 positioned in the opposite marginal edge of the removeable casket head cap 13 and foot cap 14. The head cap and foot cap of the casket have the conventional separation line 16, permitting the head cap to be opened without opening the foot cap.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the structural details of the latching mechanism of the present invention will now be described. The mechanism comprises a body bracket, indicated generally at 17, which is formed by two perpendicular plates, one forming a striker surface 18 and the other plate having a depending face 19. The depending plate forming the depending surface 19 pivotally supports two identical latching hooks indicated at 21. The latching hooks each have a latching abutment 21a formed at their free ends, this free end portion of the latching hooks extending through rectangular apertures 22 in the plate forming the surface 18. The pivotal mounting for the latching hooks includes a headed stud or pin 23 which extends freely through a registering aperture in the latching hook and further extends freely through a slot 24 (FIG. 2) formed in the plate providing the surface 19, the slot extending normal to the striker face 18. As may best be seen in FIG. 1 the studs 23 may be provided with a snap-on member 26 which hold the studs in assembled relation. The pivotal mounting of the latching hooks is such that the latching hooks are rectilinearly shifted or displaced upwardly with relation to the striker surface 18 by displacement of the pins 23 within the slots 24.

Each of the identical latching hooks 21 has extending sidewardly therefrom an arm 27 which at its free end carries a pin or abutment 28 extending sidewardly from the arm. While the arms 27 and the corresponding latching hooks 21 might take the form of separate elements rigidly joined together, they are preferably formed integrally by a unitary stamping as shown in FIG. 2. The relation of the arm 27 and the abutment 28 to its corresponding latching hook 21 is such that when the arm is displaced rectilinearly with relation to the striker surface 18, the latching hook 21 will be rotated, that is, angularly moved, with relation to the striker surface 18.

The means for providing the required motion for the pins 23 and the abutments 28 includes a slide member 31 which is disposed parallel to and closely adjacent the depending plate forming the surface 19. This plate has sidewardly turned marginal portions 19a and 1% which underlie the edge of the slide 31 and guide it in its motion with relation to the body bracket 17. The slide is provided with a first identical pair of generally Z-shaped slots 32 which freely accommodate the pins 23 pivotally mounting the latching hooks 21. Adjacent each of the slots 32 is a similarly, but not identically, formed generally Z-shaped slot 33 which freely accommodates the abutments 28 carried at the ends of the arms 27. As will be evident from FIG. 2, because of the orientation of the slots, shifting of the slide 31 beneath the surface 18 will move the latching hooks rectilinearly as the pin 23 is shifted and rotationally as the abutment 28 is shifted toward and away from the surface 18.

The means for providing the required motion of the slide 31 from a conveniently accessible point, after the latching mechanism has been installed as shown in FIG. 4, includes a sealer bolt 34, having a hexagonal counterbore 34a adapted to receive a suitable crank (not shown). The reduced end 34b of the bolt extends freely through a horizontal slot 35 in the plate forming the surface 19 and further extends freely through an aperture in the slide 31. The reduced end 3412 of the bolt 34 is rigidly joined to a cam member 36, which, by means of the pin 37 is pivotally joined to a link 38. The link 38 is, in-turn, pivotally supported by the slide 31 at the pin 39. As will be evident from FIGS. 2 and 3, rotation of the bolt 34 will pivotally move the cam 36. Movement of the cam 36 will cause the pin 37 to traverse the slot 35 and to rectilinearly move the link 38, and consequently the slide 31.

FIG. 5 indicates the arrangement of the structure just described when installed in a burial casket, FIG. 5 being a fragmentary section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4. The outer or striker surface 18 of the body bracket is positioned in underlying relation to the in-turned marginal edge 11a of the casket body 11. This marginal edge portion of the casket body is provided with apertures (not shown) which register with the apertures 22 in the body bracket. The latching hooks 21 extend through these apertures and through registering apertures in the resilient gasket 41 which overlies the marginal edge portion 11a of the casket body. As will be evident from FIG. 5, only the outer end portion of the bolt 34 protrudes from the casket body, the bolt being encircled by a rubber washer 42 which is topped by a ferrule 43. The ferrule 43 is urged into compressive engagement with the washer 42 by a compression spring 44. The latching hooks cooperate with apertured latch plates 12 mounted on the marginal portion of the head or foot cap of a burial casket. One of the latching plates is shown in detail in FIG. 6 and includes apertures 51, surrounded by an offset area for accommodating countersink mounting screws. The plates are provided with two, spaced, parallel ridges or bosses 52, and between the bosses the plate is provided with a rectangular aperture 53 sized to accommodate the ends of the corresponding latching hooks 21. The bosses 52 provide latching abutments against which the hooked ends of the latching hooks 21 are pressed when the latching mechanism is in closed or latched position.

In operation, when the casket head cap (or foot cap) is swung back from the casket body, the laching hooks will be in the position shown in FIG. 2. When the latching mechanism is to be moved to latched position (the position of FIG. 3), the bolt 34 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2. The consequent motion of the cam 36 and link 38 causes the slide 31 to move rightwardly as viewed in FIG. 2. During the initial increment of rightward movement of the slide 31 from its position of FIG. 2 the pin 23 will immediately moveup the inclined portion 32a of the slot 32, however, the pin 28 on the arm 27 will, at this time, traverse the relatively horizontal portion 33a of the slot 33. The compound motion thus provided the latching hook will move it u wardly and simultaneously rotate its ends away from the center of the body bracket as viewed in FIG. 2, the rotational movement occurring because of the horizontal movement of pin 28 while the pin 23 is moving upwardly. This upward and rotational locking motion of the latch hooks places the tip of the hooks in register with the apertures 53 in the latching plates 12.

With the casket cap lowered on to the sealing gasket 41 on the casket body, further rotational movement of the bolt 34 will cause the pin 23 to continue up the inclined surface 32a of slot 32 while the pin 28 moves up the inclined surface 331) of the slot 33. The resulting motion of the latching hooks 21 is, during this period, substantially vertically upward. As the pin 23 moves over the surface 320 of the slot 32 the pin 28 will be traversing the upper end of the inclined portion 33b of the slot 33 and there will be a resulting inward motion of the tip of the latching hooks which places the surfaces 21a of the latching hooks over the adjacent latching plate abutment surfaces 52. Further rotation of the bolt 34 will move the pin 23 down on the substantially horizontal surface 32d of the slot 32 while the pin 28 moves along the substantially horizontal surface 330 of the slot 33. Since the pins 23 and 28 are moving on substantially horizontal surfaces, there will be no rocking or rotation of the latching hooks during this increment of the motion and the hooks will be moved vertically downwardly, the surfaces 21a of the hooks engaging the latching plate abutment 52 and drawing the plate, and consequently the casket cap down into latched position against the sealing gasket 41. Rotation of the bolt 34 in the reverse direction serves to reverse the sequence of motion described above for the latching hooks and releases the latching hooks from latching engagement with the latch plates 12.

' While the latching mechanism has been illustrated and described as having two opposed latching hooks 21, cooperating with two latching plates 12, it will be understood that, for less elaborate installations, the latching mechanism might be foreshortened by omitting one of the latching hooks and the corresponding portion of the slide which would accommodate its cooperating slots 32 and 33. Such single latching hook arrangements are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. I

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, as other modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and within the broad scope of the invention, reference being made to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A casket latching mechanism for releasably retain ing a casket cap in closed position and adapted to cooperate with an apertured latch plate, said mechanism com prising a body bracket having one face forming a striker surface and another face depending therefrom pivotally mounting at least one latching hook, said latching hook having a latching abutment at its free end, said pivotal mounting comprising a slot in said depending body bracket face normal to said striker face and a pin freely accommodated within the slot and extending from said latching hook whereby the latching hook may be rectilinearly shifted With relation to said striker surface by displacement of said pin within said slot, an arm extending from said latching hook having an abutment thereon and adapted to rotate the latching hook with relation to said striker surface when said arm is displaced rectilinearly with relation to said striker surface, and a slide member disposed adjacent said depending face of the body bracket and adapted for rectilinear motion with relation thereto, said slide member having a first generally Z-shaped slot therein through which said latching hook mounting pin extends and having a second generally Z-shaped slot into which said arm abutment extends, the orientation of said slots with relation to each other being such that upon movement of said slide from a first extreme position to a second extreme position said pin and said arm abutment travel said first and second generally Z-shaped slots respectively, thereby simultaneously moving said latching hook upwardly and rotating the end of said latching hook away from the center of said body bracket, placing the tip of said hook in latching engagement with said latch plate.

2. A casket latching mechanism for releasably retaining a casket cap in closed position and adapted to cooperate with a latch member, said mechanism comprising a body bracket having a striker surface and pivotally mounting at least one latching hook, said latching hook having a latching abutment at its free end, said pivotal mounting comprising a slot in said body bracket and a pin freely accommodated within the slot and extending from said latching hook whereby the latching hook may be rectilinearly shifted with relation to said striker surface by displacement of said pin within said slot, an arm extending from said latching hook having an abutment thereon and adapted to rotate the latching hook with relation to said striker surface when said arm is displaced rectilinearly with relation to said striker surface, and a slide member disposed adjacent said depending face of the body bracket and adapted for rectilinear motion with relation thereto, said slide member having a first generally Z-shaped slot therein through which said latching hook mounting pin extends and having a second generally Z- shaped slot into which said arm abutment extends, the orientation of said slots with relation to each other being such that upon movement of said slide from a first extreme position to a second extreme position, said pin and said arm abutment travel said first and second generally Z-shaped slots respectively, simultaneously moving said latching hook upwardly and rotating the end of said latching hook away from the center of said body bracket, thereby placing the tip of said hook in latching engagement with said latch plate.

3. A casket latching mechanism for releasably retaining a casket cap in closed position and adapted to cooperate with an apertured latch plate, said mechanism comprising a body bracket having one face forming a striker surface and another face depending therefrom pivotally mounting at least one latching hook, said latching hook having a latching abutment at its free end, said pivotal mounting comprising a slot in said depending body bracket face normal to said striker face and a pin freely accommodated within the slot and extending from said latching hook whereby the latching hook may be rectilinearly shifted with relation to said striker surface by displacement of said pin within said slot, an arm extending from said latching hook having an abutment thereon and adapted to rotate the latching hook with relation to said striker surface when said arm is displaced rectilinearly with relation to said striker surface, and a slide member disposed adjacent said depending face of the body bracket and adapted for rectilinear motion with relation thereto, said slide member having a first generally Z-shaped slot therein through which said latching hook mounting pin extends and having a second generally Z- shaped slot into which said arm abutment extends, the orientation of said slots with relation to each other being such that upon movement of said slide from a first extreme position to a second extreme position said pin and said arm abutment travel said first and second generally Z-shaped slots respectively, simultaneously moving said latching hook upwardly and rotating the end of said latching hook away from the center of said body bracket, thereby placing the tip of said hook in latching engagement with said latch plate.

4. A casket latching mechanism for releasably retaining a casket cap in closed position and adapted to cooperate with a latch member, said mechanism comprising a body bracket having a striker surface and pivotally mounting at least one latching hook, said latching hook having a latching abutment at its free end, said pivotal mounting comprising a slot in said body bracket and a pin freely accommodated within the slot and extending from said latching hook whereby the latching hook may be rectilinearly shifted with relation to said striker surface by displacement of said pin Within said slot, an arm extending from said latching hook having an abutment thereon and adapted to rotate the latching hook with relation to said striker surface when said arm is displaced rectilinearly with relation to said striker surface, and a slide member disposed adjacent said depending face of the body bracket and adapted for rectilinear motion with relation thereto, said slide member having a first generally Z- shaped slot therein through which said latching hook mounting pin extends and having a second generally Z- shaped slot into which said arm abutment extends, the configuration and orientation of said slots with relation to each other being such that upon movement of said slide from a first extreme position to a second extreme position said pin and said arm abutment travel said first and second generally Z-shaped slots respectively, simultaneously moving said latching hook upwardly and rotating the end of said latching hook away from the center of said body bracket, thereby placing the tip of said hook in latching engagement with said latch plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,629,641 5/ 1927 Schlafly 292-111 X 3,094,346 6/ 1963 Baker 292-5 FOREIGN PATENTS 805,229 5/1951 Germany.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. I. R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CASKET LATCHING MECHANISM FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING A CASKET CAP IN CLOSED POSITION AND ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH AN APERTURED LATCH PLATE, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING A BODY BRACKET HAVING ONE FACE FORMING A STRIKER SURFACE AND ANOTHER FACE DEPENDING THEREFROM PIVOTALLY MOUNTING AT LEAST ONE LATCHING HOOK, SAID LATCHING HOOK HAVING A LATCHING ABUTMENT AT ITS FREE END, SAID PIVOTAL MOUNTING COMPRISING A SLOT IN SAID DEPENDING BODY BRACKET FACE NORMAL TO SAID STRIKER FACE AND A PIN FREELY ACCOMMODATED WITHIN THE SLOT AND EXTENDING FROM SAID LATCHING HOOK WHEREBY THE LATCHING HOOK MAY BE RECTILINEARLY SHIFTED WITH RELATION TO SAID STRIKER SURFACE BY DISPLACEMENT OF SAID PIN WITHIN SAID SLOT, AN ARM EXTENDING FROM SAID LATCHING HOOK HAVING AN ABUTMENT THEREON AND ADAPTED TO ROTATE THE LATCHING HOOK WITH RELATION TO SAID STRIKER SURFACE WHEN SAID ARM IS DISPLACED RECTILINEARLY WITH RELATION TO SAID STRIKER SURFACE, AND SLIDE MEMBER DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID DEPENDING FACE OF THE BODY BRACKET AND ADAPTED FOR RECTILINEAR MOTION WITH RELATION THERETO, SAID SLIDE MEMBER HAVING A FIRST GENERALLY Z-SHAPED SLOT THEREIN THROUGH WHICH SAID LATCHING HOOK MOUNTING PIN EXTENDS AND HAVING SECOND GENERALLY Z-SHAPED SLOT INTO WHICH SAID ARM ABUTMENT EXTENDS, THE ORIENTATION OF SAID SLOTS WITH RELATION TO EACH OTHER BEING SUCH THAT UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDE FROM A FIRST EXTREME POSITION TO TO SECOND EXTREME POSITION SAID PIN AND SAID ARM ABUTMENT TRAVEL SAID FIRST AND SECOND GENERALLY Z-SHAPED SLOTS RESPECTIVELY, THEREBY SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING SAID LATCHING HOOK UPWARDLY AND ROTATING THE END OF SAID LATCHING HOOK AWAY FROM THE CENTER OF SAID BODY BRACKET, PLACING THE TIP OF SAID HOOK IN LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LATCH PLATE. 